Published by eCampusNews and writen by Meris Stansburry (USA), these technology predictions are based in the information given by technology analysts from IEEE Computer Society, and education analysts from Eduventures, who say these tech-enabled trends will take off this year.

(This is an excerpt; read the complete original article here: http://www.ecampusnews.com/technologies/tech-trends-2015/?)

1. 3D printing (IEEE): In 2015, a 3D car will be printed, just one of the many uses for 3D printing, which will revolutionize manufacturing by lowering costs; therefore affecting the skills needed in tech operation for those in the STEM fields. Sales of 3D printers are also expected to take off, both in the consumer market and across higher-ed campuses for course and lab experimentation.

2. Augmented reality apps (IEEE): Mobile apps using augmented reality are already helping the colorblind see colors, travelers explore the unfamiliar, shoppers imagine what they look like in different outfits, and drivers locate parked cars, says IEEE. Apply this technology to campus virtual tours, inexpensive graphics cards and sensors, “and the popularity of applications in such areas as gaming and virtual worlds,” and augmented reality can truly go mainstream, said the Society.

3. Building security into software design (IEEE): As the volume of data “explodes, along with the means to collect and analyze that information, building security into software design and balancing security and privacy are becoming top priorities,” noted IEEE.

4. Cloud security into software design (IEEE): From the celebrity photo hacking scandal to consistent student information breaches across universities, cloud security is at the forefront for 2015. “To avoid system fragility and defend against vulnerabilities exploration from cyber attackers, various cybersecurity techniques and tools are being developed for cloud systems,” explained the Society.

5. Competency-based direct assessment (Eduventures): More “conventional approaches to competency-based education will rule the day,” said Eduventures. This year, there will be a steady adoption of over 100 new competency-based programs; and 25 of these programs will be designed around the principles and practices of direct assessment. “In all likelihood, however, direct assessment will not become the market norm,” said the company. “The contrasting credit-hour equivalency model pioneered by Western Governors University will find far more acceptance.” Also, while most of these programs will also be offered wholly or mostly online and primarily for working adults, a number of competency-based models designed for traditional-age students will also gain traction.

6. Debt will bubble over (Eduventures): Federal debt is currently $18 trillion, state debt is $4.7 trillion in unfunded liabilities, institutional debt exceeds $300 billion, and student debt is at $1.1 trillion, stated the company. With interest rates at an all-time low, colleges are borrowing more money and betting that projected revenue (tuition, endowment, etc.) will cover their increasing debt service, which is up 88 percent since 2001. “Rating agencies, however, are not being fooled. Between 2009 and 2013, the number of credit rating downgrades at colleges rated by Moody’s Investment Services outpaced upgrades by nearly five to one. We are at a tipping point when it comes to college debt and may see some notable defaults within academia.”

7. Embedded computing security will get more scrutiny (IEEE): This security level, often in systems that perform sensitive tasks, are prone to more serious attacks, which call for revisiting traditional security mechanisms not only because of the new threats, but also due to resource limitations of these often-battery-powered and extremely constrained computing systems.

8. Higher-ed spending on IT will exceed $45 billion (Eduventures): The number of technology vendors entering the higher-ed fray has exploded in recent years, noted the company, attracting billions in equity investments. This market is expected to pick up speed in 2015, even in schools with limited resources, in order to remain competitive. However, with this boom in spending, there will be notable failed investments in technology that offer little to no return on investment.

9. Internet of Anything (IEEE): “The reality that up to 26 billion things will be connected on the internet by 2020 is sinking in,” said the Society. “The Internet of Things and Internet of Everything in 2015 will morph into the Internet of Anything. IoA envisions a common software ‘ecosystem’ capable of accommodating any and all sensor inputs, system states, operating conditions, and data contexts—and overarching ‘Internet Operating System.’”

10. Online learning will grow modestly (Eduventures): The company predicts that enrollment in wholly online degree programs will be modest this year, with only 2 percent growth due mostly to uncertainty and indecision among adult learners. At the same time, the percentage of colleges entering the online market will grow very little, if at all. “Growth will be stunted due to increased regulatory concerns such as state authorization, competition from large adult-serving providers, and enrollment strategies incapable of keeping pace with the savvyness of today’s adult learners,” it stated. “Institutions will back away from online programming to focus on blended learning and improving quality and access for traditional age students.”

11. Outcomes will dominate (Eduventures): Eduventures research shows that in 2013, “career preparation” surpassed “academic strength” as the top priority for both students and parents in selecting a school.

12. Predictive analytics for outcomes (IEEE): Institutions will increasingly grow less concerned about past performance and more concerned with predicting the future.

13. Reliance on non-alumni philanthropic support will grow (Eduventures): Cultivating non-alumni donors has become more important than ever for philanthropic sustainability, said Eduventures.

14. Software-defined Anything (SDx) interoperability and standards (IEEE): “Software-defined networking’s programmability will turn various network appliances into a warehouse of apps,” noted the Society. Several standards groups, such as the ONF, IETF, ETSI, and ITU are working on interoperability issues.

15. Wearable devices (IEEE): These devices can tell time, send and receive email and messages, make calls, and track routines—making campus emergency push notifications instantaneous and potential student tracking a hot-button issue in 2015.